Even though we are in England and there is normally no such thing as a proper ‘summer’, we do love our barbecues on the weekends whenever the sun greets us with its presence. But since the sun is normally selfish and keeps all the warmth for itself, and we still love our barbecues more than anything, I thought today’s post could be about safety guidelines for using gas barbecues.
Many Fire & Rescue services provide these same guidelines. Of course, most of the normal safety warnings about charcoal barbecues also apply to gas barbecues, particularly about keeping children and pets away from the cooking area, and keeping the barbecue away from sheds, fences, trees, shrubs and garden waste.
The Fire & Rescue services recommend the guidelines below:
Never store gas cylinders under the stairs: if there is a fire they might explode and block your escape route. Store them outside, away from direct sunlight and frost.
Take care when turning bottled gas barbecues on and off.
Make sure the tap is turned off before changing the gas cylinder.
After you’ve cooked, turn the gas supply off first and then the barbecue control. This will stop any gas from leaking.
If you suspect a leak, turn off the gas cylinder and try brushing soapy water around all joints, watching for bubbles.
Make sure all joints are tightened, safe and secure.
Change gas cylinders outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
Let’s hope the weather over the rest of the summer stays warm and dry enough to enable lots of safe barbecues!
